GOVT&INDEPENDENT UNIONS DEROGATE TRIPARTITION - UNIONS ASSOCIATION

( Editorial: --> 6807 ) ZAGREB, Mar 3 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HUS), Niko Gunjina, Tuesday endorsed the proposal that the basic salary be set at US$200, as agreed last week by representatives of the government and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH). The HUS however is against the way the lowest salary and other issues had been debated, Gunjina told reporters. By their agreement, Gunjina assessed, the government and the SSSH are derogating tripartition and belittling other trade union organisations and the Croatian Association of Employers. Gunjina advocated that an integral economic strategy for Croatia's development be urgently worked out. He claimed the government "is pursuing the policy of continuity and stagnation." "We doubt that the current government can do its job, but in Croatia there are many skilled people with good intentions who want to assist in working out a proper strategy of economic development", Gunjina said. He believed that Finance Minister Borislav Skegro considered everyone who did not share his opinion as "catastrophists." (hina) ha mm 031441 MET mar 98